Better Tasting Birds with Hans Hummel and Hi Mountain Seasonings

November 8, 2018

So, you prepared wild game for friends or family that don’t eat it regularly and they are hesitant. But why? The number one reason people won’t try wild game is their perception that it will taste “gamey”. Birds are notorious for their intense flavors that can be off-putting to some diners. Ducks, geese, pheasants, turkeys and more – birds can use a little love in the kitchen to make them more tender and delicious. Joining us on The Revolution is Hans Hummel, President of Hi Mountain Seasonings and trust me when I tell you, this man knows flavor!

In order to solve the problem of foul-tasting game birds (no pun intended), Hans suggests using a brine and in fact says he rarely cooks duck without brining. Brining is more than just a water bath, Hans says that it works to pull the blood and unpleasant flavors out of your game bird and replace it with flavor. It’s not a complicated process either, using Hi Mountain Seasonings Game Bird & Poultry Brine or Brown Sugar Brine you simply take a seasoning packet, dump it into a gallon of water and submerge your bird and let it sit overnight. When you pull it out, rinse it off and you are ready to prepare it. Hans says that brining can help to tenderize your meats and notes that it is especially effective on wild turkeys that can be tough as they have very little fat. Plus, with Thanksgiving right around the corner, Hans notes how brining your turkey can make for a more flavorful and tender feast.

Brining your game birds isn’t the only way to prepare them, though, jerky is a crowd-pleasing favorite. Hans talks about their goose and turkey jerky seasoning kits. Although the texture is a little different, Hans says that goose jerky or Snackin Sticks are delicious and many people don’t even realize they are eating goose. A lot of people have a preconceived notion that making jerky is difficult, something beyond their skill level, however that’s not the case. That is what makes Hi Mountain Seasonings jerky kits so popular, they take the guess work out of it! Hans talks about what is involved in jerky making – cutting your meat, seasoning it with the included cure and seasoning mixture, letting it sit overnight and then putting it in the oven or smoker. With twenty-five different jerky kits there is a flavor profile to please everyone.

Hi Mountain Seasonings has a huge selection of rubs and seasoning blends. The versatility of the products is what really stands out though. While a product may have a specific name, like their Venison Rub or Brisket and Prime Rib Rub for example, the flavors work well and make sense with a lot of proteins and even vegetables. Trav professes his love for the aforementioned Brisket and Prime Rib Rub, a new addition to their selection this year that has a versatile savory flavor that’s as good with your meat as it is with a Bloody Mary.

If you aren’t already familiar with Hi Mountain Seasonings, then you need to cruise on over to www.HiMtnJerky.com and peruse their selection of seasonings. Their blends work masterfully with not only wild game but beef, chicken, pork and every other meat in between, plus veggies too! Be sure to tune in as Hans Hummel of Hi Mountain Seasonings talks about how we can elevate the flavor of our game meats.

Travis Ferguson

Trav is a small town kid driven by hunting, fishing, rock/honky-tonk music, cold beer and his wife and kids. Being raised in a rural area surrounded by wildlife and lacking the luxurious amenities of big city life might be challenging to some; however, to Trav, it was an utter blessing. From his inception on, Trav has spent his life outdoors, he was taught at a very young age to hunt and fish and over the years these skills have molded him into a self-sufficient outdoorsman that strives to live a sustainable and God fearing lifestyle. When Trav isn’t behind the mic he’s either in the woods or on the water sharing his passion and love for the outdoors with his family and friends. So, don't bother searching for him online and you couldn’t pay him to own an iPhone, but let me reassure you of this: If there’s hunting and fishing, cold beer on tap and shaving isn’t required, he’s certainly not too far. What you see is what you get with Trav and to sum him up is simple, he doesn’t ask for a lot and he’ll never need much, a rifle, a bow, the love of his good looking wife and to be all that his children will ever need!

Hi Hans, I've never used your jerky but I'm going to try making some of your jerky this weekend on a doe I shot on Monday. It's snowing and blowing about 50 mph so I'm going to make the jerky in my oven like Trav said he does sometime. It's marinating in the fridge now and I was wondering if there is a way I can tell when the jerky is done but not too dry?

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The Revolution with Jim & Trav is a voice for the outdoors on the airwaves. The Revolution with Jim & Trav dominates the outdoor radio segment as the fastest growing nationally syndicated radio show and podcast dedicated to outdoor enthusiasts. This weekly radio show and podcast aims to accomplish a simple goal: to promote the participation in and enjoyment of outdoor activities, especially hunting and fishing.